On December 25th, 2025, President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung visited the Provincial House in Incheon.
President Lee and the First Lady attended a Christmas service at Haein Church, a small Protestant church in Gyeyang-gu, Incheon. This church was established in 1986 by workers who pooled their money together.
Toward the end of the event, the First Lady suggested a visit to the Notre Dame Welfare Center. Since the center was closed for the holiday, they instead came to the Incheon Provincial House.
As this was an unofficial and unexpected visit by the President and First Lady, the staff from the President’s Office said they would only stay for about ten minutes. However, this brief visit unexpectedly extended. Meeting and taking photos with the sisters, they spent a delightful time chatting with Sr. Marie Justina, the Provincial Superior, and Sr. Marie Noel, the director of the Notre Dame Welfare Center, in the reception room. As they exited the lounge, sisters in the Provincial House were waiting for them, singing “Holy Mary, Mother of God,” a well-known hymn from our old convent hymnal, number 84, which touched the heart of the First Lady, leaving them filled with gratitude and joy.
In a written briefing, the Presidential Office spokesperson explained, “Since their establishment, the Sisters of Notre Dame in Gyeyang-gu have been supporting the rehabilitation and independence of marginalized groups through the operation of welfare centers and educational facilities for people with disabilities.”
This unexpected visit honored Sisters’ lifelong mission to serve the marginalized and reflected the true spirit of Christmas—compassion and solidarity.
We share this joy, which began with an unexpected encounter, with all Notre Dame sisters around the world, sending warm Christmas greetings and best wishes for the New Year.
